A North Bay police detective has been awarded for his efforts to normalize conversations about mental health challenges facing police officers. His work earned Det. Const. Zach Dagg the Canada Beyond the Blue Agent of Change Award. “The award recognizes police service uniformed or civilian members who actively work to normalize conversations around mental health and reduce stigma in the workplace,” North Bay police said in a news release this week. Dagg served as a patrol officer for 12 years, beginning his career in the Gateway City in 2010. In 2020, he transferred to the criminal investigations section, where he was an investigator and fraud coordinator. He currently oversees and investigates complex fraud matters while supporting fraud investigations. “Throughout his career, Det. Const. Dagg experienced the realities and challenges that can accompany a career in policing, including the devastating loss of his colleague, Const. Andrew Keating, in 2014,” police said in a news release. “At a time when there was limited awareness and understanding of operational stress injuries … Dagg continued to push forward while experiencing significant challenges of his own, that, ultimately led to a mental health leave. During his recovery, he was introduced to the concept of finding meaning through trauma, which became a significant turning point in his journey and reshaped both his perspective and his sense of purpose in policing.” Since returning from leave in 2024, police said Dagg has “worked to turn his own experience into meaningful change for others.” “He developed mental health and wellness training that is now delivered to every member,” the release said. “He also serves as a peer supporter, is a member of the wellness committee, and successfully advocated for Const. Keating to be included on the Beyond the Blue Ontario Police Suicide Memorial.” Dagg’s work is helping others realize that seeking support is a sign of strength -- and that no member should have to navigate the challenges of policing alone. “This recognition belongs to the small group of dedicated members in our service who have been working alongside me to build a healthier, more supportive policing culture,” Dagg said in the release. “Strengthening our members’ mental health and wellness must be embedded in our profession, as fundamental as use of force training. The consequences of not doing so are far greater for the policing community and their families.” He continues to work as an officer while fostering a police culture where “mental health is prioritized, members feel supported and no one feels they have to suffer in silence.” Dagg is also working to establish a memorial recognizing officers who have died in the line of duty -- as well as those whose deaths were because of the line of duty. North Bay police chief Daryl Longworth said Dagg’s efforts are “inspiring,” adding that it’s his behind-the-scenes work he does that sets him apart. “He is there for his fellow members as a peer supporter. He is helping build a greater understanding that mental health matters, and he is laying a foundation for the next generation of officers entering this profession,” Longworth said in the release. “Zach is blazing a path. We are incredibly proud to support him as he prioritizes his own wellness while helping shape what mental health and wellness can, and should, look like across the policing sector. His willingness to turn his own experience into an opportunity to help others is a gift to all of us.”
